Reid hails Bruce influence

Andy Reid praised Sunderland boss Steve Bruce for making Saturday's thrilling fightback against West Ham a possibility. The Black Cats went 2-0 down and, after Reid's superb free-kick reduced the deficit, Kenwyne Jones was sent off just before half-time. Sunderland were still the better side in the second half and secured a point through Kieran Richardson. "We owed the gaffer a performance on Saturday after the way we played at Birmingham," Reid told the Sunderland Echo. "Last season, never mind 2-0 down, if we'd gone 1-0 down I don't think we would have come back. That was the mentality around the place. "The new manager has given us a new lease of life. He's been brilliant. He's been straight, he's been fair. At times he's been fun and at times he's been hard. All the things a manager needs."